1 Prologue - Telos Dou Dromou

The bells rang endlessly as if there was no tomorrow. The shadows lunged from rooftop to rooftop, moving at speeds humans couldn't even comprehend for a substantial amount of time. Their energy reserves were nigh-infinite, which is why they were regarded as the best assassins of Telos Dou Dromou.

Telos Dou Dromou, the place where all living beings resided due to having been forced out of their planets by the obnoxious Giants. "The orders of the deities," they said. However, it didn't seem convincing to those who had lost their families while desperately attempting to survive in a godforsaken place.

In a quarter decorated by marbles that shone brighter than the sun at noon lay a man drugged by anaesthetics. The man had facial features that could sway the hearts of all that lay their eyes upon him, including those of the same gender. His body, albeit cloaked under a thick blanket that provided it ample warmth, was even more stunning.

The man breathed heavily through his mouth, which seemed unusual for one who was said to be in a slumber. Typically, the breathing pattern of one who is in a deep slumber is rhythmic and slow. However, by what a shadowed figure was witnessing about the handsome man, this was not the case in this situation.

Is he not asleep? The shadowed figure hugged by an atramentous robe wondered. Making sure to control his breathing pattern so as to not reveal his location, the figure approached the man who lay on ruby-red bedsheets. A dagger of great quality clutched between his fingers, the shadowed figure narrowed its eyes to slits as he confirmed that the man was indeed asleep and that the former was only a bit nervous.

The shadowed figure then raised its dagger above its head, pointing the sharp end downwards towards the sleeping figure of the man. With a maniacal grin clouding his non-visible face, the figure swung down using all its strength, forcing the nearby space to bend to its will.

The path of darkness followed the tip of the dagger as it continued on a straight path towards the stunning face of the man, who seemed oblivious to this as he slumbered like a baby.

The noise was deafening. It was a noise flesh and bones could not create, and that is precisely what troubled the shadowed figure. Instead of the grotesque remains of the man, there was instead a pearly-white longsword that had collided with the dagger. The man was nowhere to be seen.

"What the f–" Unable to suppress his outrage and immense perplexion, the shadowed figure finally relented and let out a cry in anger. However, before his sentence could be completed, his hair stood on end.

It was a sign, and the figure never ignored his sharpened instincts when faced with a potential battle.

"Theodore Anderson, one of the elites of the Templar Clan," A soothing voice resounded throughout the dark and empty room, to which the shadowed figure, also known as Theodore Anderson carefully turned to the right.

It seemed to be the correct decision, and only a second later, a needle swept past his previous position, colliding with the wall. The wall immediately shattered as if it were glass under a human's feet. Stunned, Theodore secretly admired the sheer precision of the attack before returning to his feet.

"Isabella Dunford of the Ryoujin Clan," Theodore mumbled, but his voice rang like the noise of a shattering glass vase in the ears of Isabella, who had been the one attacking Theodore. Never had she expected the likes of the Templar Clan to have a division solely based on intelligence. And, if they didn't, they couldn't have discovered information such as her name based on her voice and attacks.

An intelligence division in one of the most brutal and combat-based clans… Isabella considered the possibility of the Templar Clan losing its reputation if she revealed such information, which is why she immediately infused her longsword with mana. If she managed to take a mere assassin's life here and save her master, she would be stepping on the honorable reputation of the Templar Clan.

The clan was based on those who wished that battles be honorable, and that no one should perform back-handed tricks when in an enjoyable battle. That was why their divisions usually consisted of Vanguards who desperately wished for fame and masters of the sword who wielded their pride using a sharp tool carved using metal.

Isabella rushed forward at extreme speeds lunging when she was in proximity for a swing. However, as the slash came into contact with Theodore's body, flames lathered in darkness and erupted before suddenly extinguishing, leaving nothing behind to speak of.

"Damn it!" Isabella cursed as she rushed towards where her master was asleep. However, her fear turned into certainty as she witnessed the gruesome sight of a gaping hole in the man's body. Blood leaked as if it were a geyser, as the body lay encompassed in the shadow of Isabella, who landed on her knees before beginning to bawl loudly.

Reinforcements. It was the only word that lingered in Isabella's mind. Traitors. Master. Revenge. Kill. Several words appeared as she recovered from the state of shock, desperately attempting to clear her mind to decide what her next move was going to be.

Reinforcements from the Templar Clan have arrived, which means I will never be able to take revenge alone. Isabella thought as her facial muscles relaxed. She gently shut her own eyes using her trembling hands before clasping her two hands as if to pray. I never ask for anything except the safety of my master. I do not want to escape, but to take revenge. But now, I believe that will be nigh impossible.

A tear of regret dripped down her face, which already seemed to be crumpling into a flurry of different emotions. However, a single emotion did not remain on her face as with a seemingly quiet, painful slash, her head was separated from the rest of her body.

The leader and the elite of the Ryoujin Clan now ceased to exist, and it was questionable what the state of affairs would be like. Would the other clans fight for land and influence, or would the Templar Clan receive everything on a golden platter?

Telos Dou Dromou had entered a predicament where a singular group threatened to rule. However, the predicament did not last very long, as the entire timeline soon came to an end, truly highlighting the name of the Paradise everyone ended their journey.

Telos Dou Dromou, a cemetery for those who won, yet lost.